Do I have access to Qantas Business Lounge at LAX after flying long haul Business Class with onward economy American Airlines flight?

Airports, Transfers & Logistics
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Hey I’m hoping to get some more info on business c

I have booked business class flights for my partner and I this November flying from Melbourne to Mexico City through Qantas. Our flights are business class MEL – SYD then SYD – LAX but we were unable to get Business on our final leg (LAX – Mexico City) because it’s the partner airline (American Airlines).

We have a 4 hour layover in LAX and I booked the flights under the assumption we could use the business class Qantas lounge at LAX as per the OneWorld lounge access terms (stating class is based on the long haul flight). These terms are found at Airport Lounges: oneworld Lounges & Airport Lounge Access | oneworld.

I’ve since seen that the Qantas site has conflicting information, and suggests we won’t have access as the ongoing flight isn’t QF - even though it was booked though Qantas. Those details are here Airport lounge locations | Qantas.

Can anyone provide some more information here, or better yet - experience? Unfortunately we no longer have OneWorld status to rely on for entry.

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Hi Kelsi,

I’ve done virtually the same thing you’re talking about but in reverse, and I’m fairly certain that unfortunately you won’t get the business class lounge access in LA. My understanding is that you get it prior to departure or when connecting to a same day business class flight operated by Qantas or an eligible one-world partner, which wouldn’t be the case for you.

The only way you’d ever be able to confirm for certain would be to contact Qantas directly and pose your situation to them to ensure you’re interpreting it correctly.

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Thanks for the response Jimmy. Yeah I can wee where you’re coming from, I’m just hoping it’s not the case because of this part of their T&Cs:

  • First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).     
  • Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
I have tried contacting Qantas but as it's not a Qantas operated lounge they haven't been very helpful. The answer was 'may'.
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